At least seven people have died and a significant number are missing in the wake of a craft carrying about 200 people trying to get to the European continent capsized near the shoreline of Gambia, reports confirm.
The vessel capsized on Wednesday midnight close to Jinack in the northern bank region and it was subsequently discovered "grounded on a sandbank", the country's defence ministry said in a statement.
Nearly one hundred people were pulled to safety and a rescue operation continues for other passengers who were traveling on the shipwrecked vessel that was bound for the Spanish Canary Islands.
The perilous journey over the Atlantic has emerged as a rising pathway for African migrants trying to reach Europe.
Almost 47,000 people reached the Canaries in the year 2024 and figures suggest more than 9,000 migrants perished in the attempt.
Search and Rescue Efforts
After Wednesday's accident, Gambia's naval forces launched a rescue mission, using several naval vessels and a fishing boat that offered help, the defence ministry said.
Reports indicate some of the deceased are not Gambian nationals and that their identities are still being verified.
The remains of the seven victims who died were found, and ten of the survivors are described as being in grave health and receiving urgent medical care.
A Common Migration Route
The Gambia is a frequent corridor taken by asylum seekers trying to reach the EU, frequently via perilous trips across ocean and terrain.
Over the past few years, the European bloc has established pacts with multiple Maghreb states aimed at reducing irregular migration.
